Widely held as one of the greatest football players of all-time, if not the greatest, Lionel Messi holds the record for the most Ballon d’Or trophies of any player in history.
Given to the best player across the previous year, the Ballon d’Or is considered the most coveted individual award in world football. Messi has won the award an incredible eight times, three more than any other player.
With Messi still playing at 38, starring for Inter Miami in the United States, it’s natural to wonder whether the Argentine superstar is still in the running for the illustrious award.
The Sporting News breaks down whether Messi is in the running for the 2025 Ballon d’Or and where he stands in global football.
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Was Lionel Messi nominated for the 2025 Ballon d’Or?
Now 38, Lionel Messi was not nominated for the 2025 Ballon d’Or. Thus, he is not eligible to win the award this year, as the eventual selection must be picked from the list of 30 nominees.
Despite the fact that Messi is tied for the MLS lead in goals this season with 18 at the day of the nomination, he is no longer considered among the 30 best players in the world at this moment.
Unfortunately, playing outside of Europe has all but eliminated Messi from contention for the Ballon d’Or. While he is technically eligible for the award, as are all professional football players around the world as of 2007, it’s almost impossible for someone playing at the Major League Soccer level to do enough to gain the respect of the selection committee or the voters — the pedigree of the league is just not to that level.
MORE: All the latest Lionel Messi news
2025 men’s Ballon d’Or shortlist
The following 30 players were officially nominated for the men’s Ballon d’Or in 2025, announced on Thursday, Aug. 7.
| Player | Pos | Nationality | Club (Nation) | Age |
| Jude Bellingham | CM | England | Real Madrid (ESP) | 22 |
| Ousmane Dembele | FWD | France | Paris Saint-Germain (FRA) | 28 |
| Gianluigi Donnarumma | GK | Italy | Paris Saint-Germain (FRA) | 26 |
| Desire Doue | FWD | France | Paris Saint-Germain (FRA) | 20 |
| Denzel Dumfries | RB | Netherlands | Inter Milan (ITA) | 29 |
| Serhou Guirassy | FWD | Guinea | Borussia Dortmund (GER) | 29 |
| Viktor Gyokeres | FWD | Sweden | Sporting CP (POR) | 27 |
| Erling Haaland | FWD | Norway | Manchester City (ENG) | 25 |
| Achraf Hakimi | RB | Morocco | Paris Saint-Germain (FRA) | 26 |
| Harry Kane | FWD | England | Bayern Munich (GER) | 32 |
| Khvicha Kvaratskhelia | FWD | Georgia | Paris Saint-Germain (FRA) | 24 |
| Lamine Yamal | FWD | Spain | Barcelona (ESP) | 18 |
| Robert Lewandowski | FWD | Poland | Barcelona (ESP) | 36 |
| Alexis Mac Allister | CM | Argentina | Liverpool (ENG) | 26 |
| Lautaro Martinez | FWD | Argentina | Inter Milan (ITA) | 27 |
| Kylian Mbappe | FWD | France | Real Madrid (ESP) | 26 |
| Scott McTominay | CM | England | Napoli (ITA) | 28 |
| Nuno Mendes | LB | Portugal | Paris Saint-Germain (FRA) | 23 |
| Joao Neves | CM | Portugal | Paris Saint-Germain (FRA) | 20 |
| Michael Olise | FWD | France | Bayern Munich (GER) | 23 |
| Cole Palmer | ACM | England | Chelsea (ENG) | 23 |
| Pedri | CM | Spain | Barcelona (ESP) | 22 |
| Declan Rice | CM | England | Arsenal (ENG) | 26 |
| Fabian Ruiz | CM | Spain | Paris Saint-Germain (FRA) | 29 |
| Raphinha | FWD | Brazil | Barcelona (ESP) | 28 |
| Mohamed Salah | FWD | Egypt | Liverpool (ENG) | 33 |
| Virgil van Dijk | CB | Netherlands | Liverpool (ENG) | 34 |
| Vinicius Jr. | FWD | Brazil | Real Madrid (ESP) | 25 |
| Vitinha | CM | Portugal | Paris Saint-Germain (FRA) | 25 |
| Florian Wirtz | ACM | Germany | Bayer Leverkusen (GER) | 22 |
